Apparatus for continuously autoclaving pouch constructions and the like



Dec. 2, 1969 T. E. TRAINHAM 3,481,691

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY AUTOCLAVING POUCH CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE LIKE2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14, 1966 INVENTOR THOMAS E TRAINHAM HISATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 T. E. TRAINHAM 3,481,691

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY AUTOCLAVING POUCH CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE LIKEFiled Nov. 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s, INVENTOR i THOMAS E- TRAINHAM BY4 iwzw ,1

HIS ATTORNEYS U.S. or 21-94 United States Patent APPARATUS FORCONTINUOUSLY AUTOCLAV- ING POUCH CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE LIKE Thomas E.Trainham, Richmond, Va., assignor to'Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond,Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 593,977Int. Cl. A61] 3/00 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus forcontinuously feeding product-containing flexible pouch constructionmeans into an autoclaving chamber of a housing means to be autoclavedtherein and then be continuously fed from the housing means to theexterior thereof, the pouch construction means being placed underpressure on the exterior thereof during the autoclaving operation toprevent the internal pressure created in the pouch construction means,during the autoclaving operation, from adversely affecting the non-rigidpouch construction means.

It has been found according to the teachings of this invention that manyfood products and the like can be packaged in metallic foil pouchconstructions or the like and be hermetically sealed therein to besubsequently cooked and/or sterilized by an autoclaving operation beforethe merchandising of the same to the ultimate consumers so that the foodproducts can be preserved in the non-rigid pounch constructioins of arelatively long period of time before the food product or the like isutilized by the ultimate consumer.

However, it has also been found according to the teachings of thisinvention, that the internal pressures created in such non-rigid packageconstructions during the aforementioned autoclaving operation tend todestroy or otherwise adversely effect such sealed closed pouchconstructions whereby one of the features of this invention is topressurize the autoclaving chamber with a pressure that prevents theinternal pressures created in such pouch constructions during theautoclaving operation from adversely affecting the same.

A further feature of this invention is to provide means for continuouslyfeeding such pouch constructions from the exterior of the apparatus intothe autoclaving chamber and, thereafter, continuously removing theautoclaved pouch constructions from the interior of the apparatus.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides transfer meanswhich will continuously transfer the pouch constructions between theexterior of the apparatus and the interior thereof while progressivelychanging the external pressure on the pouch construction during thetransferring operation. For example, when the transferring means istransferring the pouch constructions from the exterior of the apparatusinto the interior thereof, the transfer means increases the externalpressure on the pouch constructions whereas when the transfer means isremoving the pouch constructions from the apparatus, the transfer meansdecreases the pressure thereon to substantially normal atmosphericconditions.

While flexible pouch constructions are illustrated in the drawings andare hereinafter described as being formed of metallic foil and heatscalable material, the terms product-containing flexible pouchconstruction and the like utilized in this description and appendedclaims are intended to cover and refer to other types of non-rigidproduct-containing receptacles having any desired configuration andbeing formed of any suitable material or materials suitable for anautoclaving operation or the like as hereinafter set forth.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod for continuously autoclaving product-containing flexible pouchconstructions or the like, the method of this invention having one ormore of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown ordescribed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus forcontinuously autoclaving productcontaining flexible pouch constructionsor the like, the apparatus of this invention having one or more of thenovel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view illustrating the improvedmethod and apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 1A is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view of one of theproduct-containing flexible pouch constructions.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating a typicalpressure regulator means utilized with the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of one of the pouch transfer means of theapparatus of FIGURE 1 with FIGURE 3 being partially broken away andillustrating a reduced number of pocket means in the transfer wheel fromthe number of pocket means illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 55 ofFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 ofFIGURE 3.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adapt able for continuouslyautoclaving product-filled flexible pouch constructions formed ofmetallic foil, it is to be understood that the various features of thisinvention can be utilized singly or in various combinations thereof toprovide means of autoclaving other types of substantially non-rigidpackage constructions, as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of the invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved apparatus of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a housingmeans 11 having a feeding or transfer means 12 for serially feedingproductfilled flexible pouch constructions 13 from a hopper means 14into an autoclaving chamber 15 of the housing means 11 to be carriedtherethrough by a continuously moving conveying means 16. The conveyingmeans 16 continuously conveys the pouch constructions 13 from theautoclaving chamber 15 through an intermediate chamber 17 of the housingmeans 11 and into a cooling chamber 18. The housing means 11 includes aremoving or second transfer means 19 for serially removing the pouchconstructions 13 from the cooling chamber 18 and feeding the same to theexterior of the housing means 11, such as into a suitable containermeans 20 as illustrated.

The pouch constructions 13 can each be formed in the manner illustratedin FIGURE 1A wherein the .pouch construction 13 includes an outer layerof metallic foil 21, such as aluminum containing metallic foil,laminated to an inner heat sealable layer 22, such as polyvinylchlorideor the like, with the laminated sheet means 21, 22 being so constructedand arranged that the same define a product-receiving compartment 23containing a food product 24 or the like hermetically sealed therein byhaving the facing heat sealable layer means 22 heat sealed to itself atthe outer seams 25 thereof. In this manner, it can be seen that the foodproduct means 24 is fully hermetically sealed in the pouch constructionmeans 13 while the sheet means 21, 22 render the pouch construction 13relatively flexible and, thus, non-rigid.

Since it is desired to autoclave such product-filled pouch constructions13 for a predetermined length of time in the autoclaving chamber 15 ofthe apparatus of this invention at approximately 250 F., the steam orother pressures created internally in the chambers 23 of the pouchconstructions 13 during such autoclaving operation would tend to burstor otherwise adversely effect the flexible and non-rigid pouchconstruction means 13 in such a manner that conventional autoclavingoperations cannot be performed on the product-filled non-rigid pouchconstructions 13.

However, the method and apparatus 10 of this invention is so constructedand arranged that the autoclaving chamber of the housing means 11 isadapted to be pressurized to a predetermined pressure during theautoclaving operation therein which will counter balance or offset theinternal pressures created in the chambers 23 of the pouch constructions13 so that such internal pressures will not adversely effect such pouchconstructions 13 in the manner set forth above.

In particular, steam or the like is adapted to be introduced into theautoclaving chamber 15 under a predetermined pressure from a sourcemeans 26 to not only pressurize the autoclaving chamber 15 for theaforementioned purpose, but to also provide the autoclaving fluid forautoclaving the pouch constructions 13 being conveyed through theautoclaving chamber 15 by the conveyor means 16 for a predeterminedlength of time and at a desired temperature, such as the aforementioned250 F. A suitable vent conduit 27 is disposed in fluid communicationwith the autoclaving chamber 15 and is controlled by a pressure operatedvalve means 28 to cooperate with the source means 26 to maintain thedesired pressure in the autoclaving chamber 15, such as in the order of20 p.s.i.g.

The cooling chamber 18 of the housing means 11 is likewise pressurizedto the same pressure as the autoclaving chamber 15 by a pressureproducing source means 29, such as by refrigerated compressed air or thelike, cooperating with a suitable vent conduit means 30 controlled by apressure operated valve means 31 to maintain the pressure in the coolingchamber 18 at the same pressure being maintained in the autoclavingchamber 15. Also or alternately, the cooling chamber 18 could be cooledby cooling elements disposed therein or by water being introducedtherein, the purpose of the cooling chamber 18 being to reduce thetemperature of the autoclaved pouch constructions 13 conveyedtherethrough by the conveying means 16 to a desired temperature beforethe same are delivered to the exterior of the housing means 11 by thetransfer means 19 in a manner hereinafter set forth.

In order to separate the autoclaving fluid in the chamber 15 from thecooling fluid in the chamber 18, the intermediate chamber 17 of thehousing means 11 is interconnected to the autoclaving chamber 15 by apassage means 32 and to the cooling chamber 18 by a passage means 33,the passage means 32 and 33 permitting the conveyor means 16 to passtherethrough.

However, an intermediate wall 34 is provided in the intermediate chamber17 to divide the upper portion of the chamber 17 into separate sections35 and 36 respectively interconnected to the passage means 32 and 33.The lower end 37 of the wall 34 is submerged in a body of liquid 38having its surface 39 disposed above the end 37 of the wall 34 wherebyautoclaving fluid from the chamber 15 which enters the section 35 of theintermediate chamber 17 is prevented from communicating with the coolingfluid in the chamber 18 which enters the section 36 of the intermediatechamber 17 by the so-called water lock means 38, such body of liquid 38preventing such communication as the pressure imposed on the sur face 39thereof is equal in the chamber sections 35 and 36.

In order to maintain the liquid 38 at the level 39, additional amountsof the liquid 38 can be introduced into the intermediate chamber 17 froma supply means 40 while overfilling of the liquid 38 in the chamber 17can be controlled by a vent conduit means 41 controlled by a valve means42. For example, since the conveyor means 16 convey the autoclaved pouchconstructions 13 into the body of liquid 38 around the lower end 37 ofthe wall 34 and upwardly to the passage means 33 for the cooling chamber18, a condensing action takes place which might tend to raise the level39 of the body of liquid 38. However, any condensate that increases thelevel 39 of the liquid 38 could actuate a float means that would controlthe valve means 42 in a manner to maintain the liquid level 39 at apreselected position.

The transfer means 12 and 19 each comprises a passage defining means 43having openings 44 and 45 in the outer periphery thereof, the opening 44in the passage defining means 43 of the feeding means 12 having a pouchdeflecting guide 46 on the lower side thereof to guide each pouchconstruction 13 into the opening 44 as the respective pouch construction13 falls by gravity from the lower end of the feeding hopper means 14,Similarly, a lower guide means 47 is formed adjacent the opening 45 ofthe passage defining means 43 of the transfer means 12 to guide thepouch construction 13 falling out of the opening 45 by gravity onto theconveyor means '16 to be subsequently conveyed thereby.

In particular, the conveyor means 16 can comprise a continuously movingchain, belt, web or the like carrying a plurality of open endedperforated baskets or receptacles 48 having lid means 49 normally urgedto their closed positions against the open ends 50 of the receptacles 48by suitable spring means or the like. However, as each receptacle 48approaches the outlet opening 45- of the transfer means 12, an outwardlyextending tang 51 on a particular lid or cover 49 will cam againstsuitable abutment means 52 to cam open the lid 49 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 1 to permit the falling pouch construction 13 tobe received within the open end 50-of the receptacle 48. After the tang51 of the particular receptacle 48 passes beyond the abutment 52, thelid 49 closes under spring pressure or the like to mtaintain the pouchconstruction 13 therein throughout the entire movement of the receptacle48 through the autoclaving chamber 15, intermediate chamber 17 andcooling chamber 18 until the same approaches the inlet opening 44 of thetransfer means 19. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the inlet opening 44 ofthe passage defining means 43 of the removing means or transfer means 19has guide means 53 and 54 thereon which will guide the falling pouchconstruction -13 into the inlet 44 as the lid 49 of a respectivereceptacle 48 is being cammed open by an abutment means 55 in the samemanner as the abutment means 52 previously described.

A guide means 56 is carried adjacent the outlet opening 45 of thetransfer means 19 to assist in guiding a pouch construction 13 fallingby gravity out of the opening 45 into the supply means 20 wherein thepouch constructions 13 can be packaged for subsequent storing, shippingand merchandizing thereof, as desired.

Each transfer means 12 and 19 includes a rotatable member 57 disposed inthe respective passage defining means 43 to rotate relative thereto andserially carry the pouch constructions 13 being received at the inlet 44thereof to the outlet 45 thereof, each rotatable member 57 having aplurality of radially outwardly directed pocket means 58 disposed aboutthe same for individually carrying such pouch constructions 13.

The details of each transfer means 12 and 19 are substantially identicalto each other whereby only the details of the transfer means 19 will befully described in connection with FIGURES 3-6 with it being understoodthat such details also apply for the transfer means 12 except forcertain functions thereof hereinafter set forth.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the passage defining means 43 of thetransfer means 19 includes a pair of opposed disc-shaped side member 59suitably secured to an end wall means 60 having the arcuateconfiguration illustrated in cross section in FIGURE 4 and being cutawayto define the inlet and outlet openings 44 and 45 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 3.

The rotatable member 57 is disposed within the passage defining means 43and is fixed to a shaft 61 rotatably mounted in the end members 59 asillustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby the member 57 is adapted to rotaterelative to the passage defining means 43.

The rotatable member 57 includes a pair of spaced disc members 62 and 63interconnected together by a cylindrical hub member 64' concentricallydisposed about the shaft 61. Each member 62 and 63 has a plurality ofslots 64 formed in the inner surface 65 thereof and disposed radiallyabout the same, each slot 64 having its inner end 66 terminating at thecylindrical member 64 and its outer end 67 extending to the outerperipheral surface 69 of the particular member 62 or 63. p

A plurality of metallic baflle members 70 or the like have substantiallyrectangular tongue portions 71 received in aligned slots 64 in themembers 62 and 63 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 and are securedtherein and to the cylindrical member 64' to define the lower parts ofthe pouch receiving pockets 58 previously described.

A resilient gasket means 72 is provided to permit fluid sealing of eachpocket 58 from the others as the particular pocket is being movedbetween the inlet 44 and outlet 45 of the passage defining means 43.

In particular, the gasket means 72 comprises a substantially integralflexible member having a plurality of loops 73 respectively received ingrooves 74 formed around the outer D-shaped ends 74 of each bafiie means70 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6 and having the lowerends 75 thereof received in radial grooves 76 formed in the outersurfaces 77 of the hub members 62 and 63 as illustrated in FIGURE 4.Each loop 73 of the gasket means 72 has the lower ends 75 thereofintegrally interconnected to the lower ends 75 of adjacent loops 73 byarcuate side parts 78 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5.

In this manner, the gasket means 72 rotates in unison with the rotatablemember 57 while fluid sealing each pocket means 58 from adjacent pocketmeans 58 as the particular pocket means 58 moves from the opening 44 inthe passage defining means 43 to the outlet opening 45 thereof for apurpose now to be described.

As previously stated, since the chambers 15, 17 and 18 of the housingmeans 11 are pressurized to a pressure to prevent the internal pressuresdeveloped in the pouch constructions 13 from adversely affecting thesealed condition of the non-rigid layer means 21, 22 around the productmeans 24 during the autoclaving operation in the chamber 15, thetransfer means 12 and 19 respectively seal the chambers and 18 from theexterior of the housing means 11 even though the transfer means 12 hasits opening 44 in communication with the atmosphere and the transfermeans 19 has its opening 45 in communication with the atmosphere topermit the continuous feeding and removing operations of the pouchconstructions 13 in the manner previously set forth, such sealedrelation being provided by the effective sealing of the pocket means 58of the rotatable member 57 to the inside surfaces of the passagedefining means 43 through the resilient gasket means 72 previouslydescribed.

However, the transfer means 12 is also adapted to not only prevent thepocket means 58 of the rotatable member 57 from venting the pressurefrom the autoclaving chamber 15 during movement of a pocket means 58adjacent the opening 45 in a clockwise direction to the opening 44, butalso is adapted to progressively increase the pressure on the exteriorof each pouch construction 13 as the same is being conveyed from theinlet opening 44 to the outlet opening 45, the transfer means 12including one or more pressure regulator means 79 of a conventional formfor transferring pressures between the pocket means 58 of the rotatablemember 57.

For example, each pressure regulator means 79 can be of the typeillustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein a housing means 80 is separated into twochambers 81 and 82 by a valve seat means 83 adapted to be opened andclosed by a valve member 84 carried by a flexible diaphragm 85 closingthe upper end of the chamber 81. The diaphragm 85 is normally urgedtoward the valve seat 83 by a compression spring 86 having its urgingforce adjustable by conventional adjusting means 87 in a manner wellknown in the art. The chamber 81 of the regulator 79 is adapted to beinterconnected to a source of high pressure by a conduit means 88 whilethe chamber 82 is adapted to be interconnected to a source of lowerpressure by a conduit means 89.

In this manner, should the source of high pressure fluid beinginterconnected to the chamber 81 of the regulator 79 by the conduit 88be approximately 20 p.s.i.g., the regulator 79 can be adjusted by theadjusting means 87 to only permit the high pressure source at theconduit 88 to be reduced by approximately 5 p.s.i.g. so that the lowerpressure source interconnected to the chamber 82 by the conduit means 89will only have its pressure increased by approximately 5 p.s.i.g.

For example, when the pressure in the chamber 81 being delivered theretoby the conduit 88 is at approximately 20 p.s.i.g., such force actingupwardly on the diaphragm 85 in opposition to the force of thecompression spring 86 will maintain the valve member 84 away from thevalve seat 83 so that the pressure fluid can pass into the chamber 82and through the conduit 89 to increase the lower pressure sourceinterconnected thereto. However, when the pressure in the chamber 81 hasbeen reduced to approximately 15 p.s.i.g., the compression spring 86overcomes the force of the pressure in the chamber 81 to move theflexible diaphragm 85 downwardly in FIGURE 2 and seat the valve member84 against the valve seat 83 to terminate the passage of pressure fluidthrough the valve seat 83 until the pressure in the chamber 81 shouldagain increase above the set 15 p.s.i.g.

Four such pressure regulator means 79 are utilized in connection withthe transfer means 12 in a manner now to be described, each regulatormeans 79 being adapted to reduce the pressure source connected to itsinlet chamber 81 by approximately 5 p.s.i.g. while correspondinglyincreasing the pressure source connected to the outlet chamber 82 byapproximately 5 p.s.i.g.

A first pressure regulator means 79A has its inlet conduit means 88disposed in fluid communication with the interior of the passagedefining means 43 at the point 90 so as to be in fluid communicationwith each pocket means 58 as each pocket means 58 rotates in a clockwisedirection from the outlet opening 45 to the inlet opening 44 wherebyeach pocket means 58 at the point 90 has a pressure substantially equalto the pressure in the autoclaving chamber 15 which in theaforementioned example is approximately 20 p.s.i.g. The regulator 79Ahas its outlet conduit 89 also disposed in fluid communication with theinterior of the chamber defining means 43 at the point 91 so as to be influid communication with each pocket means 58 as the same rotates in aclockwise direction from the inlet opening 44 to the outlet opening 45.

Similarly, a regulator means 79B has its inlet conduit 88 in fluidcommunication with the rotating pocket means 58 at the point 92 and itsoutlet 89 at the point 93, a regulator means 79C and a regulator means79D have their inlet conduits 88 respectively disposed in fluidcommunication with the rotating pockets 58 at the points 94 and 96 Whiletheir outlet conduits 89 are respectively in fluid communication withthe rotating pocket means 58 at the points 95 and 97.

In this manner, as each pocket 58 reaches the point 90 in its clockwiserotation from the outlet opening 45, the pressure regulator means 79Areduces the pressure in the respective pocket 58 by approximatelyp.s.i.g. while boosting the pressure in the pocket 58 at the point 91 byS p.s.i.g. Thus, when a particular pocket means 58 reaches the point 96,the pressure thereof has been progressively reduced to substantiallyatmospheric pressure by the regulator means 79A, 79B, 79C and 79Drespectively reducing the pressure therein from its original 20 p.s.i.g.at the opening 45 in stepped 5 p.s.i.g. increments in the mannerpreviously described. Conversely, as each pocket means 58 carries areceived pouch construction means 13 from the inlet opening 44 towardthe outlet opening 45, the pressure imposed on the pouch construction 13is progressively increased from the normal atmospheric pressure at theopening 44 to approximately 5 p.s.i.g. at the point 97 by the regulatormeans 79D, to approximately 10 p.s.i.g. at the point 95 by the regulatormeans 79C, to approximately psig. at the point 93 by the regulator means79B and to approximately p.s.i.g. at the point 91 by the regulator means79A so as to be substantially at the same pressure as the pressureprovided in the autoclaving chamber 15 before the same enters thechamber 15 at the outlet opening 45 of the transfer means 12.

The transfer means 19 also operates in a like manner to progressivelyreduce the pressure on the exterior of each pouch construction 13 beingcarried by the pocket means 58 of the rotatable member 57 as therespective pocket means 58 moves from the inlet opening 44 to the outletopening 45 thereof while at the same time progressively increasing thepressure on each pocket 58 as the same rotates from the outlet opening45 back to the inlet opening 44 in a clockwise direction.

In particular, the pressure regulator means 79A of the transfer means 19reduces the pressure in each pocket 58 as the same moves from the inlet44 to the point 98 and increases the pressure in each pocket means 58 asthe same rotates from the outlet opening 45 to the point 99 as the inletconduit 88 is in fluid communication with the interior of the passagedefining means 43 at the point 98 while the outlet conduit means 89thereof is disposed in fluid comunication with the interior of thepassage defining means 43 at the point 99. Similarly, the pressureregulator means 79B reduces the pressure in each pocket means 58 byapproximately 5 p.s.i.g. when the same reaches the point 100 andcorrespondingly increases the pressure in each pocket means 58 byapproximately 5 p.s.i.g. when the same reaches the point 101, thepressure regulator means 79C and 79D respectively reducing the pressureof each pocket means 58 by approximately 5 p.s.i.g. as each pocket meansrespectively reaches the points 102 and 104 while correspondinglyincreasing the pressure in each pocket means 58 as the same respectivelyreaches the points 103 and 105.

In this manner, the desired pressures inside the housing means 11 aresubstantially maintained by the transfer means 12 and 19 while stillpermitting the transfer means 12 and 19 to respectively communicate withthe exterior of the housing means 11 and the interior thereof, thetransfer means 12 progressively increasing the pressure on each pouchconstruction 13 from its atmospheric condition at the inlet 44 toapproximately the same pressure as the pressure in the autoclavingchamber 15 before the same is received in the chamber 15 and thetransfer means 19 progressively reducing the pressure on the exterior ofeach pouch construction 13 from the pressure imposed thereon in thechamber 18 to substantially normal atmospheric pressure before the sameis deposited outside the housing means 11 at the outlet opening 45.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the method and apparatus of thisinvention permit a continuous autoclaving operation by continuouslyfeeding pouch constructions into the housing means by a feeding meansand continuously transferring such autoclaved pouch constructions 13from the interior of the housing means to the exterior thereof byremoving means.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for continuously autoclaving productcontaining flexiblepouch constructions and the like comprising housing means having anautoclaving chamber therein, conveying means disposed in said chamberfor conveying said pouch constructions therethrough, means forpressurizing said autoclaving chamber with autoclaving fluid toautoclave said pouch constructions as they are conveyed therethrough,said housing means having means for continuously feeding said pouchconstructions from the exterior of said housing means into saidautoclaving chamber to be carried therethrough by said conveying means,said housing means having means for continuously removing said pouchconstructions from the interior 'of said housing means and feeding thesame to the exterior thereof after said pouch constructions have beenautoclaved, at least one of said feeding means and said removing meanscomprises a rotatable member having pouch-receiving pocket meansradially disposed therein, passage defining means interconnecting theexterior of said housing means with the interior thereof and having apair of openings respectively in communication with the exterior and theinterior of said housing means, said member being rotatable in saidpassage defining means to substantially seal closed said pocket means assaid pocket means move between said openings and to serially bring saidpocket means into alignment with said openings thereof, said passagedefining means having a plurality of conduit means respectively fluidlyinterconnecting certain of said pocket means as said certain pocketmeans pass from one of said openings to the other of said openings toother of said pocket means as said other pocket means pass from saidother opening to said one opening, and pressure regulator means in eachof said conduit means to limit the degree of pressure reduction from onepocket means to its interconnected pocket means through the respectiveconduit means as said member rotates.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding meanscomprises means for increasing the pressure on the exterior of eachpouch construction from its normal atmospheric pressure before saidpouch construction is received in said autoclaving chamber.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding meanscomprises means for progressively increasing the pressure on theexterior of each pouch construction as the same moves from the exteriorof said housing means into said autoclaving chamber.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said removing meanscomprises means for decreasing the pressure on the exterior of eachpouch construction from the pressure imposed thereon in said housingmeans before said pouch construction is fed to the exterior of saidhousing means by said removing means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said removing meanscomprises means for progressively decreasing the pressure on theexterior of each pouch construction as the same moves from the interiorof said housing means to the exterior thereof.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressurizing meanspressurizes said autoclaving chamber with a pressure in excess of theinternal pressure created inside each pouch construction during itsautoclaving in said autoclaving chamber.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means has acooling chamber separated from said autoclaving chamber, said conveyingmeans continuously conveying said pouch constructions from saidautoclaving chamber into said cooling chamber, and means forpressurizing said cooling chamber with fluid.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim wherein said removing means removessaid pouch constructions from said cooling chamber and feeds the same tothe exterior of said housing means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said feeding meansprogressively increases the pressure on the exterior of each pouchconstruction from its normal atmospheric pressure to substantially the:same pressure level as the level of pressure in said autoclaving chamberbefore said feeding means disposes sa id pouch construction into saidautoclaving chamber.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said removing meansprogressively reduces the pressure on the exterior of each pouchconstruction from the level of presvey-ing means conveys said pouchconstructions from said autoclaving chamber, through said intermediatechamber and into said cooling chamber.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 and including liquid meansdisposed in said intermediate chamber to block fluid engagement betweensaid autoclaving fluid and said pressurizing fluid in said coolingchamber.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means forpressurizing said autoclaving chamber and said means for pressurizingsaid cooling chamber pressurize said chambers to the same pressurelevel.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said pressurizing meanspressurize said chambers to a pressure of approximately 20 p.s.i.g.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,540 1/ 1920 Fooks.

1,544,304 6/ 1925 Fenn 992 14 1,584,397 5/ 1926 Paxton 992 14 2,380,9848/ 1945 Moeller.

2,536,115 1/1951 Wilbur.

2,660,513 11/1953 Ball 2156 2,862,822 12/1958 Whitmore 21-56 XR3,093,449 6/ 1963 Kotarski'et a1 21-56 XR 3,348,905 10/1967 Reveley 2156MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner B. S. RICHMAN, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

